This is an excerpt from an article written by Dr Louise de Waal of Green Girls in Africa and published online on 16 October, 2019
A shipment of 342 kg of lion bones, the equivalent of 30-35 lions, was seized during a sting operation at OR Tambo airport on the 2nd October 2019. Amos Mututwa (34), a Zimbabwean citizen, was arrested and appeared at Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court yesterday for his bail hearing.
Mututwa was granted R3,000 bail by magistrate Prince Manyati and the case has been postponed until the 6th December to allow for further investigation.
“Blood Lions is concerned that wildlife crime does not receive the grave attention it deserves in our legal system. Too many of those arrested are granted bail, many of whom are non-South African nationals, who have left the country without justice being served,” says Pippa Hankinson (Producer – Blood Lions).
“Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit, Crime Intelligence, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), as well as Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Team intercepted a suspicious consignment, which led to the recovery of 12 boxes filled with lion bones reportedly on its way to Malaysia”, said Capt Ndivhuwo Mulamu (Communication Officer – Gauteng Hawks).